ISLAND WEDDING | College mates find formula for love, say ‘I do’ in Ja

For college mates Leatha Brown and Edward LaFontant, there was an unexpected yet inevitable attraction as they sat in the same science class. Over time, sparks grew to chemistry, and those moments eventually blossomed into a love that culminated in marriage years later. The happy couple, who reside in the United States, already had a destination wedding in mind following the grand proposal. And, when it came time to pick a Caribbean island, the land of wood and water was their first and only choice.

“We chose Jamaica because we love Jamaica– the people, food, [and] nature. Everything about it. Our team on the island made sure our day was beautiful and one to remember! And our guests are still talking about our big day,” Leatha told Island Wedding.

After being in biology class together and having study sessions in the library, the two developed an unmatched friendship.

“He would walk me back to my dorm room after study sessions to make sure I was safe. Every single day. We would joke, laugh and just have great conversation[s] on our walks,” she added.

From the get-go, Edward was captivated by Leatha's beauty. “Initially, I thought, ‘Short, thick, sexy, mean-looking. Yeah, she's mine’. But then she had a heart of gold. She drove about an hour through Miami traffic just to come and see me after my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair,” he shared.

The two went on a sporting adventure of go-kart racing, mini-golf and laser tag for the first date. Leatha recalled the occasion being surprisingly great, “It was the longest date I had ever been on, but I didn’t want it to end.”

After one to two months of dating, Leatha and Edward decided to give the relationship a try in 2016.

Since embarking on their journey together, Leatha has come to deeply appreciate Edward. To her, he is not only handsome but also a strong leader and provider, qualities she feels honoured to share her life with.

“He has allowed me the space and time to be a new mother, get settled into my career, and has been so patient with me throughout it all. He is forever evolving into a great husband and father. He is always looking for ways to advance our family forward,” she said, adding, “We enjoy travelling the world and giving our daughter the life that we didn’t have growing up.”

She knew from as early as their first date that he was the one, a feeling that was later affirmed with the birth of their daughter.

Viewing her as stunning from the start, Edward was drawn to Leatha’s spiritual strength, elegance, and radiance. “She carries herself with grace, pushes me to grow into the man I am today, and always brings light into every situation. She is a queen,” he said.

Pushing him to be better and to want more out of life, she remains the level-headed one, always taking time to reflect on every situation before reacting.

“We enjoy being together anywhere, especially somewhere with wings and ginger ale,” he added.

Edward agreed that Leatha was the one from the very beginning, but it really hit him when he realised they were both chasing the same goals. It helped that their union was confirmed by faith.

After nearly seven years of courting, he decided it was time to make the love of his life his lawfully wedded wife. Edward popped the question with a holiday proposal one year after the pair graduated from college.

The duo had planned a trip back to Leatha’s hometown of Cincinnati for Christmas, where Edward included her sister in the engagement plan.

“We were all sitting around the table, and her sister gave the look of ‘It’s time’. After a while, I finally stood up and asked Leatha to come in front of her family. The moment I got down on one knee, her family yelled ‘YES!’ before she even had the chance to answer,” he reminisced with a laugh.

An excited Leatha said the proposal was absolutely perfect, “I [shared with] him before that I wanted my family present, and he didn’t disappoint.”

The newly engaged couple worked with a destination wedding planner and coordinator, who delivered a seamless experience. Leatha also highlighted decorator Izma Designs for bringing their nuptial vision to life.

“Izma is truly a top-tier team. The level of care, professionalism, and commitment are unmatched. The husband-and-wife duo, who own the company, is honest, attentive, and genuinely focused on bringing your vision to reality,” Leatha shared.

On April 25, Edward and Leatha jetted to the island to wed at the south beach gazebo at Moon Palace Jamaica All Inclusive Resort. And, because of the rain, the reception was held in the Orion ballroom.

“The wedding was the best day of our lives,” the gorgeous bride shared, adding, “We can't even put into words our feelings. Everyone fought so hard for us. We initially didn’t think our ceremony would happen outside due to [the] rain. But our entire team decided that we should do it. I’m so happy they did! I have absolutely no regrets. Trusting our team, trusting God and expecting the unexpected made us have the most amazing time,” she explained.

The dapper groom agreed, noting, “The wedding was amazing. God blessed us with such a beautiful day … [It] turned out to be a truly unforgettable Cinderella story – one I would relive over and over again.”

As the newly-weds celebrated the new chapter, they shared an official first dance at the reception to Dangerously in Love by Beyoncé. “It was very nostalgic for me because I would sing this song to him in college a lot. It was a time of just taking in everything that we had accomplished and [the] love that we have shared for almost 10 years. It was such a surreal feeling,” Mrs LaFontant reflected.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com

CAPTIONS:

LaFontantsWeddingA2.jpg:

When Mr and Mrs LaFontant set out to choose a destination for their wedding, Jamaica was their first and only choice.

LaFontantsWeddingB2C:

The dapper groom (centre) is flanked by his supportive groomsmen suited in brown, beige and tan. 

LaFontantsWeddingE2C:

Bouquets waved high as the bridesmaids celebrated the gorgeous bride (third left) on the couple’s special day.

LaFontantsWeddingF2C:

Surrounded by enchanting flora, the groom dips his bride for a kiss following their official ceremony at the south beach gazebo at Moon Palace Jamaica All-Inclusive Resort in April.

LaFontantsWeddingG2C:

Even though the dress she chose wasn’t the style she had initially envisioned, Leatha said yes after trying it on, feeling incredibly beautiful on her big day.